He's in Never Say Never Again, although he didn't play Q, but another ally of Bond. His character was also played for laughs -- mostly slapstick ones, IIRC. However, if Atkinson were more in the Blackadder mold than the Mr. Bean one, I could see him taken more seriously. That said, who can argue with Hugh Laurie? He'd be terrific.
Given the tone of the Craig films, I would say yes. Incidentally, regarding Q and Ms. M, I wonder if reintroducing them would mean the movies would give them larger parts than has been the norm. The past two movies have shown no real interest in bringing them in for a perfunctory scene, so if they're being reintroduced that might mean they'll have more role in the story. Also, Harris is considerably more beautiful than past Moneypennys; Lois Maxwell and Samantha Bond were hardly unattractive, but compared to the supermodel-level love interests they always looked quite ordinary.
Perhaps they'll take over the role that Mathis filled in the first two Craig films, since he's now quite dead. On the other hand, they might be more like Tanner, who probably had more to do in either of the two Brosnan films that featured the character than he did in Quantum of Solace.
There's only one actor in my mind who could do Q as well as Desmond Llewelyn did, and that's Anthony Head.
Tony Head would be a great choice as well. I just think Hugh Laurie would be able to balance the humor and seriousness that the Craig era Bond movies have depicted so far. I think he'd also have great banter with Craig's Bond.
Bill Nighy for Q. End of story. And Jeffrey Deaver made a great suggestion for Mary Goodnight (who is Bond's secretary in several original Fleming novels, not just the one-off Bond girl of Man with the Golden Gun, and returns in Deaver's Carte Blanche) - he describes her as looking like Kate Winslet. I've nothing against Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, but I had my fingers crossed for Christina Hendricks. (Remember Lois Maxwell was a Canadian, so there's no rule that says Moneypenny has to be played by a Brit). Alex
Is this the thread where we talked about Colin Salmon being promoted to Q? Was that a discussion or was that a phantom of my imagination? I remember something about Robinson or Salmon, just not what.
I think they should just bring him back as Charles and give him a more active role. They could also make him closer to literary Tanner since film Tanner is kind of a dud.
Robinson was obviously too hard, only 007 is allowed to be a hard arse now! Shame, one of the things I miss from the older films is the giant battles ala You Only Live Twice or The Spy Who Loved Me. I've never seen Harris in anything so don't have a clue how she'd play MP. As for Q. Dominic Keating? Good lord no, Q's supposed to have personality! Plus for some of us Keating will always be rememebred as the camp barber in Desmonds Laurie, I can't see it. Tony Head, yes that might well work. I think the trouble is that the world has moved on, so whilst once upon a time Q might have been the eccentric rocket scientist type, he's more likely to be some geeky kid nowadays--Deaver's probably right. Although maybe there is a way to combine the 2. Matt Smith anyone? and though I am biased, I still think Emilia Fox would make a cracking Money Penny.